Efficacy and Safety of Atezolizumab Plus Bevacizumab Following Disease Progression on Atezolizumab or Sunitinib Monotherapy in Patients with Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma in IMmotion150: A Randomized Phase 2 Clinical Trial

BackgroundThe use of immune checkpoint inhibitors combined with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-targeted therapy as second-line treatment for metastatic clear cell renal cancer (mRCC) has not been evaluated prospectively.ObjectiveTo evaluate the efficacy and safety of atezolizumab + bevacizumab following disease progression on atezolizumab or sunitinib monotherapy in patients with mRCC.Design, setting, and participantsIMmotion150 was a multicenter, randomized, open-label, phase 2 study of patients with untreated mRCC. Patients randomized to the atezolizumab or sunitinib arm who had investigator-assessed progression as per RECIST 1.1 could be treated with second-line atezolizumab + bevacizumab.InterventionPatients received atezolizumab 1200 mg intravenously (IV) plus bevacizumab 15 mg/kg IV every 3 wk following disease progression on either atezolizumab or sunitinib monotherapy.Outcome measurements and statistical analysisThe secondary endpoints analyzed during the second-line part of IMmotion150 included objective response rate (ORR), progression-free survival (PFS), and safety. PFS was examined using Kaplan-Meier methods.Results and limitationsFifty-nine patients in the atezolizumab arm and 78 in the sunitinib arm were eligible, and 103 initiated second-line atezolizumab + bevacizumab (atezolizumab arm, n = 44; sunitinib arm, n = 59). ORR (95% confidence interval [CI]) was 27% (19–37%). The median PFS (95% CI) from the start of second line was 8.7 (5.6–13.7) mo. The median event follow-up duration was 19.4 (12.9–21.9) mo among the 25 patients without a PFS event. Eighty-six (83%) patients had treatment-related adverse events; 31 of 103 (30%) had grade 3/4 events. Limitations were the small sample size and selection for progressors.ConclusionsThe atezolizumab + bevacizumab combination had activity and was tolerable in patients with progression on atezolizumab or sunitinib. Further studies are needed to investigate sequencing strategies in mRCC.Patient summaryPatients with advanced kidney cancer whose disease had worsened during treatment with atezolizumab or sunitinib began second-line treatment with atezolizumab + bevacizumab. Tumors shrank in more than one-quarter of patients treated with this combination, and side effects were manageable.     

The pharmacokinetics and hypoglycaemic effect of sunitinib in the diabetic rabbits

BackgroundDiabetes is one of the most common metabolic diseases in the world, which may influence changes in the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of drugs. Sunitinib is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) broadly used for treatment of numerous cancers, which exhibits the side hypoglycaemic effect. The aim of the study was a comparison of concentrations and pharmacokinetics of sunitinib after a single administration in rabbits with hyperglycaemia and normoglycaemia (control group). Additionally, the effect of sunitinib on glucose levels was investigated.MethodsThe research was carried out on a control group (n = 6) and a group of rabbits with diabetes (n = 6). The rabbits were treated with sunitinib in the oral dose of 25 mg. Plasma concentrations of sunitinib and its metabolite (SU12662) were measured with validated HPLC method with UV detection.ResultsThe comparison of the sunitinib C_max and AUC_0–∞ in the diabetic group with the control group gave the ratios of 1.63 [90% confidence interval (CI) [1.59; 1.66] and 2.03 [1.97; 2.09], respectively. Statistically significant differences between the analyzed groups were revealed for C_max (p = 0.006), AUC_0–∞ (p = 0.0088), and AUC_kel (p = 0.009). The maximum glycaemia drop of 14.4–69.6% and 15.4–33.5% was observed in the diabetic animals and in the control group, respectively. The glycaemia values returned to the initial values in 24 h after the administration of the drug.ConclusionsThe research proved the significant influence of diabetes on the pharmacokinetics of sunitinib and it confirmed the hypoglycaemic effect of the TKI in diabetic rabbits and in normoglycaemia.     

Use of [177Lu]Lu-DOTA-TATE in the treatment of gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumours: Results of a UK cost-effectiveness modelling study

AimTo evaluate the cost-effectiveness of [¹⁷⁷Lu]Lu-DOTA-TATE versus relevant comparators for the treatment of neuroendocrine tumours located in the gastrointestinal tract (GI-NETs) and the pancreas (P-NETs).Materials and methodsA three-state partitioned survival model was developed to perform a cost-utility analysis of [¹⁷⁷Lu]Lu-DOTA-TATE versus standard of care (high dose Octreotide LAR), everolimus and sunitinib. Effectiveness data for SoC, everolimus and sunitinib were obtained from published Kaplan–Meier survival curves. Given a lack of head-to-head effectiveness data, matching adjusted indirect comparisons (MAICs) were performed to population-adjust [¹⁷⁷Lu]Lu-DOTA-TATE survival data based on prognostic factors and derive estimates of relative effectiveness. Health state utilities were estimated from real-world evidence. Drug acquisition costs were taken from nationally published sources (BNF, NICE), and administration costs were based on treatment protocols in [¹⁷⁷Lu]Lu-DOTA-TATE studies, combined with nationally published unit costs (PSSRU, DoH reference costs). Incidence of adverse events were estimated using published sources. A discount rate of 3.5% was applied to both utilities and costs, and deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were performed. Costs were included from an NHS perspective and presented in 2017/18 GBP (and PPP Euros for base case).ResultsIn GI-NETs, the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of [¹⁷⁷Lu]Lu-DOTA-TATE compared to SoC and everolimus was £26,528 (€27,672) and £24,145 (€25,186) per QALY, respectively. In P-NETs, the ICER of [¹⁷⁷Lu]Lu-DOTA-TATE compared to SoC was £22,146 (€23,101) or £28,038 (€29,251) dependent on matched population, and £21,827 (€22,766) and £15,768 (€16,445) compared to everolimus and sunitinib, respectively.ConclusionsAt a willingness to pay threshold of £30,000, [¹⁷⁷Lu]Lu-DOTA-TATE is likely to be a cost-effective treatment option for GI-NET and P-NET patients versus relevant treatment comparators (NHS perspective).     

Anti-angiogenic treatment in breast cancer: Facts,successes, failures and future perspectives

Angiogenesis is one of the hallmarks of cancer and a crucial requisite in the development of tumors. Interrupting this process by blocking the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) with the monoclonal antibody bevacizumab has been considered a possible breakthrough in the treatment of various types of cancer, especially for advanced disease. However in breast cancer, studies have shown ambivalent results causing debate about the value of this drug. In this article, we review the evidence for anti-angiogenic treatment options for breast cancer, as well as discuss the possible factors limiting the effectiveness of anti-angiogenic agents and offer a recommendation regarding the future research on these therapies for the treatment of breast cancer.     

Dopamine increases the anti-cancer efficacy of sunitinib in the treatment of pancreatic cancer

Sunitinib (SUN) is a multi-targeted receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) that may lead to drug resistance and metastasis because of increased cancer stem-like cells (CSCs) due to the induction of hypoxia. Our group has proved that dopamine (DA) can specifically reduce CSC frequency and enhance the response of SUN in drug-resistant breast cancerand non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In this study, DA and SUN combination therapy was investigated in the treatment of pancreatic cancer, a malignant tumor with high mortality rate and very limited therapies. The cytotoxicity assay, clone formation assay and wound healing assay in two pancreatic cancer cell line PANC-1 and SW1990 showed that DA could significantly increase the effect of SUN on cell survival, clone formation ability and migration ability. Besides, SW1990 cell-derived xenograft model and a pancreatic cancer patient-derived xenograft (PDX) model were constructed, further proving that DA could increase the in vivo anti-tumor efficacy of SUN, and could be reversed by SCH23390, a D1 dopamine receptor (D1DR) antagonist. Moreover, the CSC frequency of the combination groups was lower than the control groups or SUN monotherapy groups. In addition, the body weight, H&E staining and blood routine test results showed that the combination therapy was safe. In summary, DA and SUN combination therapy could be a promising strategy for the treatment of pancreatic cancer.     

Sunitinib对支气管哮喘气道重塑小鼠模型Erk通路和cyclin D1表达的影响

目的 探讨sunitinib对支气管哮喘(简称哮喘)气道重塑的干预作用及可能的作用机制.方法 18只BALB/c小鼠随机分为对照组、哮喘组以及sunitinib组,每组6只;以卵清蛋白(OVA)致敏、激发,建立慢性哮喘气道重塑模型.Sunitinib组每次雾化吸人前半小时给予sunitinib(40 mg/kg)灌胃给药.OVA末次激发结束后24 h处死小鼠,HE染色观察气道炎症及形态学改变,采用ELISA法检测支气管肺泡灌洗液(BALF)中IL-4、IL-13和血清总IgE的表达,免疫组织化学法观察肺组织增殖细胞核抗原(proliferating cell nuclear antigen,PCNA)、α平滑肌肌动蛋白(a smooth muscle actin,α SMA)表达水平.蛋白印记法(Western blot)测定细胞外信号调节蛋白激酶(extraeellular signal-regulated kinase,Erk)蛋白磷酸化水平及细胞周期蛋白D1(cyclin D1)的表达.结果 HE染色示哮喘组小鼠黏膜下层和平滑肌层增厚,管腔狭窄,大量炎性细胞浸润,sunitinib组上述改变较哮喘组为轻;sunitinib干预后哮喘小鼠BALF中Th2细胞因子IL4、IL-13和血清总IgE以及肺组织羟脯氨酸含量显著降低(P＜0.01).哮喘组小鼠气道PCNA阳性细胞百分比、α-SMA表达及肺组织Erk磷酸化水平、cyclin D1蛋白表达较对照组明显升高(P＜0.01),sunitinib干预后其表达均降低(P＜0.01).结论 Sunitinib可能通过抑制Erk途径影响cyclin D1的表达,抑制了慢性哮喘模型中气道平滑肌的增殖,发挥抗气道重塑作用.     

Randomized phase II study of sunitinib versus standard of care for patients with previously treated advanced triple-negative breast cancer

PurposeThis randomized, open-label phase II study compared the efficacy of sunitinib monotherapy with that of single-agent standard-of-care (SOC) chemotherapy in patients with previously treated advanced triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).MethodsPatients with advanced TNBC, relapsed after anthracycline- and taxane-based chemotherapy, were randomized to receive either sunitinib (37.5 mg/day) or the investigator's choice of SOC therapy. Progression-free survival was the primary endpoint.ResultsMedian progression-free survival was 2.0 months with sunitinib and 2.7 months with SOC chemotherapy (one-sided P = 0.888). Median overall survival was not prolonged with sunitinib (9.4 months) compared with SOC chemotherapy (10.5 months; one-sided P = 0.839). The objective response rate was 3% with sunitinib and 7% with SOC chemotherapy (one-sided P = 0.962).ConclusionsSunitinib monotherapy did not improve efficacy compared with SOC chemotherapy in patients with previously treated advanced TNBC, for which identification of effective treatments and therapeutic targets remains an urgent need.Trial registrationNCT00246571.     

Sunitinib versus pazopanib para el tratamiento del carcinoma de células renales metastásico: experiencia en 2 hospitales turcos

IntroductionSunitinib (SUN) and pazopanib (PAZ) are 2 oral tyrosine kinase inhibitors against vascular endothelial growth factor. Their efficacy and safety in metastatic renal cell carcinoma has been proven with phase iii studies. However, real world data is limited. The objective of this study is to assess the clinical benefit of SUN and PAZ in routine practice.MethodsWe reviewed the medical records of 79 metastatic renal cell carcinoma patients treated with SUN (50 mg/day on 4/2-schedule) or PAZ (800 mg/day continuously). Patients were assessed retrospectively at 2 Turkish hospitals between 2006 and 2016.ResultsFor the entire cohort median age of patients was 60 (28-87) years and 70% of them were male. The objective response rate and disease control rate in SUN/PAZ groups were 34/37% (P = .96) and 78/87% (P = .046), respectively. With a median follow up duration of 15 months, median progression-free survival and overall survival in SUN/PAZ groups were 8/8 months (P = .83) and 22/21 months (P = .53), respectively. The common all grade toxicities for SUN vs. PAZ were fatigue (59 vs. 74%), skin changes (44 vs. 44%), anemia (35 vs. 42%), hypothyroidism (37 vs. 19%; P = .02) and hypertension (33 vs. 50%). In patients treated with SUN, total grade 3-4 toxicities (mean number of toxic events per patients) were 0.71, whereas in patients treated with PAZ, total grade 3-4 toxicities were 0.11 (P < .001). SUN was associated with an increased incidence of grade 3-4 fatigue (P = .007), anemia (P = .001) and hypothyroidism that needed therapy (P = .02). Dose reduction in 49 and 24% of patients (P = .02), and treatment cessation in 37 and 26% of patients (P = .37) were required in the SUN and PAZ groups, respectively.ConclusionsIn our study, there was no difference in terms of survival outcomes between 2 agents. However, patients treated with SUN had more grade 3-4 adverse events which prompted dose reduction.     

Evaluation of anastomotic strength and drug safety after short-term sunitinib administration in rabbits

Background

Sunitinib (Sutent) is a Food and Drug Administration–approved receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor found to reduce postoperative adhesion formation in animal models. The objective of the present study was to evaluate anastomotic healing and potential drug-related toxicities after short-term sunitinib administration in New Zealand White rabbits.

Materials and methods

Under an approved study protocol, 40 rabbits underwent a laparotomy followed by colonic transection and anastomosis. Animals were randomly assigned to treatment with oral sunitinib (10 mg/kg/d) or placebo, received one preoperative dose followed by 10 postoperative doses, and were divided into two groups following the procedure: group I animals were euthanized on completion of drug treatment and group II animals were euthanized 30 d after completion of treatment. Prior to study completion, animals underwent an echocardiogram and laboratory test results were obtained. At necropsy, intestinal bursting strength (in mmHg) was evaluated.

Results

All animals survived until designated euthanasia. There was no evidence of intra-abdominal sepsis or intestinal obstruction. Sunitinib-treated animals were found to have lower intestinal anastomotic strength compared with placebo-treated animals, as measured by bursting pressure at euthanasia, and a greater percentage of bursting at the anastomosis. On echocardiography, all ejection and shortening fractions were within established normal reference values. There were no significant differences in liver enzymes between animals. There were no wound infections, dehiscence, or delayed wound healing in any animal.

Conclusions

These results caution against the administration of sunitinib in cases involving intestinal anastomoses because of the elevated risk of anastomotic leak. No evidence of cardiotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, or detrimental effect on wound healing was found in any animal.